20 things to look forward to in 2017

Everyone’s favorite space cowboy is going to be back in action. Chris Pratt returns as cosmic outlaw Peter Quill flanked by his crew of heroic malcontents. After the little teaser near the end of the first movie, Quill’s parentage may be featured as well as a smaller, spunkier Groot. Oh, and let’s not forget about a new Awesome Mix of music that might be the heart and soul of this movie. The crew is back on screen May 5. Watch the trailer here.

Personally, it was painful to watch Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice at certain points, but the diamond in the rough was definitely the appearance (and subsequent bad-assery) of Wonder Woman. After years of rumors, Diana Prince will make her big-screen debut with Gal Gadot starring as the title character and Monster director Patty Jenkins calling the shots behind the camera. Zack Snyder’s turn as the DC Universe puppet master has been a mixed bag, but Wonder Woman can get fan boys and girls back in DC’s corner. You can watch Wonder Woman in the theaters June 2. Watch the trailer here.

There aren’t a lot of properties in Hollywood that get fan bases fired up quite like Star Wars. All Disney has to do murmur “Star Wars” and people will line up outside of theaters. It’s almost cruel that after satisfying our Star Wars craving with Rogue One, we have to wait another year to continue the main series. Yes, Episode VII was basically a reboot of the original film, but fans are still curious to see where the story goes in Episode VIII — how emo is Kylo Ren going to be, and what is Luke Skywalker going to do after being a mute prop in the last movie? The movie is set to release to Dec. 15. Watch the trailer here.

There may never be another actor more suited to play Wolverine than Hugh Jackman. If this is Jackman’s last turn as the cantankerous lone wolf, it might be his best one yet. Logan follows Wolverine through a dystopian world years after the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past. With his healing powers failing, he attempts to protect a young girl while (not surprisingly) dealing with his own demons. And if that trailer with Johnny Cash doesn’t get you hyped, you have no soul. Watch trailer here.

After surprising us with a show-stealing performance in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man is getting his own film. It appears your friendly neighborhood spider is going to be making his way through high school, balancing academics with aerobatics as he fights crime through the city. If Tom Holland has half the personality he had in Civil War, we could be looking at one of the best Spider-Man movies starting July 7.

Everything was awesome about Lego: The Movie, especially Batman, or a satirical rendition of him at least, which is why he has his own spinoff movie releasing Feb. 10, 2017. Will Arnett returns as the voice of a comical version of the caped crusader as he attempts to battle the Joker with unwanted help from Robin and Batgirl. Zach Galifianakis voices the Joker, so you know what kind of movie this will be: fun, silly and subtly inappropriate. Watch the trailer here.

Everything that has a beginning has an end. And while Game of Thrones regaled us with stories of power, lust and bloodshed, one of the greatest shows in television history is on its way to a finale. Season seven will be the second to last of the series, and it will have a lot to build on and storylines to tie up with a certain person ascending to the Iron Throne, a homecoming of sorts and the White Walkers making their presence known. Savor the show while you can. It won’t be around for much longer. 

For as grand as the Marvel movies have been, the gritty Netflix shows have captured the “human” in these superhuman characters. Like the other Marvel Netflix shows, Iron Fist is set in New York and follows a martial artist with mystical powers who was missing for 15 years before returning home. His inclusion in the Marvel Universe also means there will most likely be a Defenders series or movie featuring Jessica Jones, Daredevil and Luke Cage. Refresh your Netflix homepage on March 17 to find Iron Fist in your new releases. Watch the trailer here.

There isn’t a lot of time periods made for HBO quite like 1970s New York. The sex, the drugs and the crime make it perfect for the unfiltered and mostly uncensored style of the premium channel. Throw in Maggie Gyllenhaal as a sex worker and James Franco playing identical twins trying to make it in Times Square, and you have the makings of a gritty show about the porn industry, rise of HIV and the drug epidemic ravaging the Big Apple. No date has been announced for the pilot episode, but it will be in 2017.

The Netflix hit show took us down memory lane where Dungeons and Dragons reigned supreme, bad haircuts were actually just haircuts, and your friends stuck by you no matter what superhuman company you kept. Stranger Things took everything we loved about '80s television and movies and revived it on our modern streaming service. Fans can expect much of the same hijinks in season two of the series with the town of Hawkins attempting to return to the quiet town it once was before the discovery of the “Upside Down.” There has been no date set for season two’s release, but it is expected to happen in 2017.

This past election stirred up a lot of emotion, and Eminem couldn’t even escape it. Before releasing his eight-minute track “Campaign Speech,” he revealed that he was working on a new album to follow up his certified-platinum effort in The Marshall Mathers LP 2. After calling President-Elect Donald Trump a “loose cannon” who is “blunt with his hand on the button,” fans can expect some fire in this album that will be released in 2017.

On its face, I admit that watching a bunch of grown men and women in tights throwing each other around a ring is pretty silly. But professional wrestling isn’t really about that. It’s about the stories and the characters that capture the imaginations of kids as much as the adults. These men and women sacrifice their bodies to entertain the crowd, all to get to the big time: WrestleMania. The WWE’s ultimate event is sure to have signature moments and storylines coming to a climax on April 2, 2017. 

Any time a champion is crowned in the NBA, there will always be hype. Then again, not a lot of years have a so-called super team in the Golden State Warriors vying for the title. There is a lot of the season left to be played, but maybe Russell Westbrook takes his one-man show and wreak havoc in the Western Conference. Not only that, but LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are still in a good position to defend their title. Game 7s and emerging stars always show up for the NBA Playoffs. Why should this year be any different?

One does not experience March Madness. You live it. Whether you’re a bracket head or not, the drama and suspense of being one buzzer away from glory or defeat in a one-and-done elimination tournament may be the most exciting sports spectacle of year. Starting with the conference tournaments and extending all the way to the big dance of the NCAA Tournament, March Madness encompasses everything that is good in team sports: camaraderie, effort and that one shining moment that lifts a team beyond what anyone expected.

If you haven’t gotten hooked on hockey, you’re missing out on some of the fastest, most physical action you can see in sports. That intensity is only amplified in the playoffs, where tough (at times, toothless) men literally fight for Lord Stanley’s Cup, putting their bodies on the line for a childhood dream of hoisting it over their heads. A playoff in any sport always has drama, but there is something so tense and brutal about the Stanley Cup Playoffs that make them better than all the rest.

Year after year, the Super Bowl is hyped beyond belief. More often than not, the game itself is disappointing. However, what will never disappoint are parties that will no doubt be in full swing associated with the Super Bowl. The NFL’s championship game has become less about football and more about hanging with your friends, forsaking calorie counting, and enjoying a beverage or two. People will construct literal stadiums of food to celebrate the unofficial holiday. And don’t forget about the incredible commercials and annual Puppy Bowl that is shown for your friends who may not partake in the pigskin sport. The game might suck, but chilling with your buddies won’t.

After the success of the first Mass Effect series, it was only a matter of time before a sequel came to the popular third-person shooter. The new game will take place in the Andromeda Galaxy (duh) 600 years after the events of the original series. Dialogue trees and romantic relationships will be in play again as you make that all-important decision: Are you a Paragon or a Renegade. Look for its release early in 2017. Watch the trailer here.

Ever since Ocarina of Time, Nintendo has made Zelda games some of the most visually stunning in its exclusive catalogue.  Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the latest in that long line. The game will feature an open world 12 times larger than Twilight Princess and give players the chance to figure out the game at their own pace. Fans of the series will enjoy the freedom to explore dungeons and other areas without the restrictions of linear gameplay in the first Zelda game produced in HD. No specific date has been named, but the game is set to release in 2017. Watch the trailer here.

Did Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice leave you wanting more hero-on-hero action? Now you can control Batman or Superman while he pummels Aquaman, Supergirl and Joker in Injustice 2. The sequel to the popular fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us promises to have the same brutal fight scenes and smooth mechanics while adding new characters and a loot system where players can pick up costume pieces that upgrade characters' attributes. If you want to play Mortal Kombat with superheroes, this is the game for you. Watch the trailer here.

Vikings, samurai and medieval knights are epic warriors in their own right. Throw them into a game together where they’re battling for the survival of their clan and you have a recipe for some incredible clashes. Not only can you slash and dash your way through droves of medieval fodder, but you can duel with higher-level enemies in hand-to-hand combat that is as tense as it is tactical. Hitting shelves on Feb. 14, this blood and guts game is the perfect gift for your valentine. Watch the trailer here.